An Alley in Zejtun.
The old quarters of the City of Zejtun. One of the oldest Cities of Malta. Zejtun (Zeitun) in Sicilian Arabic means ‘Olive’ . Zejtun was given the title of City by the last Grandmaster, Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim, who named it ‘Citta Beland’, Beland being his mother’s maiden surname.
In Medieval times, Zejtun was was known as le Terre di Santa Caterina, Saint Catherine is the patron Saint.The local Militia Regiment of Zejtun was the first to engage the Ottoman forces in the initial stages of the Great Seige of 1565. The Town served as a Depot for soldiers during the French Blockade of 1798/1801.
During the First World War, Zejtun housed one of the Hospitals for wounded British and French soldiers.
Since Malta’s Independence from Great Britain in 1964, the Town has expanded rapidly due to the home-ownership-schemes and the Industrial and Housing Estates that were built around the old village core.



An Alley in Zejtun. belongs to the following groups:
All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Amateur Photographers' Association, European Everyday Life (add the place!), Everyday Life, Former DPF Members, Heritage in Stone, Light In The Darkness and Your Magic Place (PLACES only!!) Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints

Richard Willett
Nice work. Well done.
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you widged…..appreciate your kind comment.
midzing
gorgeous shot,,, love the lighting and tones in this,,, well done
Anthony Vella replied
Hi midzing. Glad you like this picture. Thank you for your visit and comment.
SharonAHenson
LOvely !
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Sharon….appreciate your visit and comment.
Gili Orr
Looks like a painting… besides this man ;-) beautiful capture, very atmospheric.
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Gili. The man in the picture brings us back to reality….otherwise the picture would have represented a dream from ancient times.
Dennis Gay
G’day Toninu,
Oh I like this!!!!!
Even though I am not a great fan of HDR the way you have processed this makes it look so very natural.
A great old street scene composed very well and photographed with great technical skill.
The human element is a great touch and keeps us in today amid stones that have soaked up all the history of the passing years.
Very good work!
GB
Dennis
Anthony Vella replied
Hi Dennis . Glad you like this HDR presentation. Old alleys fascinate me….the buildings within have so much to tell. I often think of the hard times our forefathers have gone through trying to make this a better world for us, while we (mankind), through our egoistic greed for material things (wealth and power to name a few), are slowly but surely destroying this wonderful world we live in.
Thank you for your visit and greatly encouraging comment my friend. Its always a pleasure to have you visit and comment on my pictures.
Robert Och
Nice work , well done
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Robert….very kind of you to visit and comment so favourably.
Xandru
You’re like a walking history book, Tony!!!
An image that’s very well executed.
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Alex my friend. History makes you conscious of what’s around you. I only wish that there were more people like us to preserve what little we have left.
Carlos Teófilo
Superb Anthony.
Anthony Vella replied
Hello Carlos.Thank you for your visit and kind comment and for adding this picture to your favourites.
Ellen
Very beautiful image Tony!
Anthony Vella replied
Hello Ellen. One of our old alleys I’m sure you are quite accustomed with. This one of course is in the old quarters of Zejtun. You can tell the really old buildings by the pelmit like structure on top of the doors. You can see four of them in the right side of the picture. These buildings are over 300 years old. Thank you for your visit and comment my friend.
Ann Garrett
This one caught my eye, lovely mellow tones
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Ann….appreciate your visit and kind comment.
Shelly Hiebert
FANTASTIC image Anthony! Love this :)
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Shelly….glad you like this image.
rasnidreamer
Another instant fav. for me Anthony! Your work is the best!!!
Anthony Vella replied
Hello my dear friend. Thank you for your suppport. Glad you like this picture, Appreciate your kind comment and your adding this picture to your favourites.
Shannon Byous ...
This is a beautiful picture! Makes me want to be there myself to explore and take it all in.
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Shannon…...I’m sure you’d enjoy yourself immensely if you’re there.
Linda Syms
Beautiful work.
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Linda….glad you like it.
Gilberte
another beautiful view Tony.I like the lighting very much
Congrats on your feature Tony..
well deserved
Anthony Vella replied
Hello my dear friend Betty. Glad you like this Alley view. I need more time to explore this Town further. I know it has quite a few very old houses. Thank you for kind comment on this picture and my featured work.
Marvin Collins
Great image Tony, I love it!!
Anthony Vella replied
Hi Marvin my friend….....glad you like this image and thank you for your kind comment.
Catherine Ale...
Beautiful! Another one for my favorites.
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Catherine…....appreciate your visit and kind comment. Thank you also for adding this work to your favourites.
Prasad
Wonderful treatment, Tony :)
debsphotos
What interesting history and amazing place!! Wonderful detailTony!! *-)
Anthony Vella replied
Hi Deb. Zejtun is one of the oldest towns in Malta. It is believed that the Romans planted the first olive trees in the place some 2000 years ago.The Arabs (AD 870 – 1090) named the place Zejtun, meaning Olive, for the abundant olive trees in the area. Glad you appreciate what I present and write for you my friend. Thank you.
SilverVisionz
Fantastic hdr image, has a painterly like quality to it!
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you SilverVisionz. Glad to know you like this image.
Thordis
Great shot Toninu! :)
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Thordis…appreciate your visit and comment my friend.
Racheli
Exquisite capture Tony.
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Racheli…..glad you find this image interesting enough to comment so favourably.
Suzanne German
Anthony this is a terrific shot of Zejtun! I feel so proud to be maltese seeing the artwork and talent in this group!...what a beautiful island malta is…not forgetting our sister islands Gozo and Comino of course!
Anthony Vella replied
Hi Suzanne….welcome. I’m pleased to know you like this image, and that you too, like me, are proud of our little Island group. Gozo is a jewel on its own, and surely not to be forgotten of course. Thank you for your visit and appreciate your kind comment.
Suzanne German
hi anthony i love gozo …you know my grandfather was in victoria, gozo.
Suzanne German
...and the Germans are from Senglea/L-Isla…well in the old days, mr great grandfather – Salvatore German, used to have a tug-boat line docked in the small harbour there….and was also a partner with Cisk – in those days it was a Winery…..they co-owned/founded. They didn’t go into business with the Beer though…..obviously Cisk is still going strong!
..just a little history sharing….the three cities housed some interesting families and tales in the old days i’ve been told.
Suzanne German
...back again….the first grandfather ~(mother’s dad) was born in Victoria, Gozo. The family from Senglea are my father’s side.
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Suzanne….I have sent you a bubble mail. Kindly open at your convenience.
Jonicool
This has such a timeless feel to it Anthony..Love it!
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Joni…..appreciate your visit and comment my friend.
Madeleine Fors...
Beautiful!! Love it! :)
Anthony Vella replied
Hi Maddie….so nice to have you visiting my portfolio. Glad you like this presentation of one of our old alleys on the Island. Thank you for your visit and ‘Beautiful!!’ comment.
Stuart Chapman
Magnificent shot. The lighting and feel to it are excellent and the lone individual adds some real character to it
Anthony Vella replied
Hello Stuart. Thank you for your visit and kind comment.
Kate Purdy
Your work on RedBubble really stands out to me. You have an amazing eye and your words that accompany each work of art you present, really gives insight as to what moved you to take the photo and how you prepare the image for us.
Anthony Vella replied
Hi Kate. It’s nice of you to visit my portfolio. Your kind comment gives me great satisfaction in knowing that my efforts are appreciated. Thank you so much my friend.
Rick Knowles
Great shot!
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Ricky…so nice of you to comment so favourably.
Jason Connolly
Excellent shot Anthony…...
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Jason….appreciate your positve comment my friend.
amarica
Outstanding work again my friend!
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Ann….....pleased to know you like my work.
Aimelle
I like how we are put into the past from the architecture and those lovely tones, yet brought back into the present with the man in the composition. Love the tones and light ! well done
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Aimelle. Appreciate your very positive and kind comment.
Eva and Klaus ...
Great atmosphere!!!
Anthony Vella replied
Hi Eva and Klaus. Thank you for your visit. Appreciate your kind and positive comment .
Steve Buffington
The lighting you captured is awesome. Well done.
Anthony Vella replied
Hello Steve….welcome to my portfolio. Pleased to know you like this image. Appreciate your positive comment. Thank you.
Elana Bailey
Love the comp, treatment, lighting and capture to this one. Well done. An instant fav. I can see why it is a magical place of yours.
Anthony Vella
Thank you Elana. Nice to have you visit my portfolio. Appreciate your encouraging comment.
mikebov
Another superb image with excellent narrative
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Mike….so sorry I missed your kind comment.
kilmann
What a wonderful atmosphere.
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Kilman….appreciate your visit and kind comment and kindly accept my apologies for not answering earlier than this.
JayneLogan
Wonderful and interesting words and a stunning piece of art!
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Jayne…..glad you like both picture and writing. Appreciate your kind comment.
Edwin Catania
Hi Tony-
—-- One of your best in my opinion. Notwithstanding that I consider extreeme HDR out of my league this moderate attempt is a surreal presentation in an exceptional light modality-—-—-—-—--GOLD MEDAL FROM MY PART -—- PROSITAnthony Vella replied
Thank you Edwin. Greatly appreciate your kind if not highly eloquent comment of my modest work. Coming from you, whom I seriously consider a master of light and shadow, I regard your compliment as a great honour my friend. Grazzi hafna siehbi.
Hidemi Tada
Malta is one of country i wanted to visit while i was in Europe. You have lots of beautiful photo Anthony!! all are excellent for me.
Anthony Vella replied
Hi Hidemi. So happy to see a great Artist such as you visit my Gallery and comment so highly on my work. A pleasure and honour Sir.
Rosalie M
well done on winning challenge with this work
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you for the good news and kind compliment Rosalie. Now I’ll go and check the results!.
Astrid Pardew
Anthony this is just SUPERB!
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Astrid. Appreciate your encouraging comment my friend.
"Chris" Cristi...
Great work!
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you shadycat. Appreciate your visit and kind comment.
Lois Bryan
Anthony, I LOVE it!!!!!! There’s a fabulous sense of mystery and drama here!!! Of course your processing of this fascinating alleyway is superb as always!!!!
Anthony Vella replied
Hi Lois, it’s a pleasure to have you visit my galery and I appreciate your kind comment my friend.